Self-Contained Thermal Beverage System

ABSTRACT

The present device is a self-contained system to cool a beverage quickly without any external mechanisms or support. The device comprises both the thermal system and a bladder holding a beverage. The device is received by the user, who activates it. A reaction occurs within the vessel, causing the contents of the bladder to rapidly change to a temperature that makes the beverage more enjoyable.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No.U.S. 61/733,961 by Kevin Joseph filed on Dec. 6, 2012. That applicationis incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A common issue with beverages is achieving and maintaining a desiredtemperature before they are consumed. When beverages are consumed, theyare usually at a temperature that is different than their surroundings.If the environment is cold, the beverages are usually served warm. Ifthe environment is hot, then beverages are usually served cold.

In order to keep a beverage below the outside temperature, there havebeen several options. One is a thermally insulated container, or cooler,where the beverage is not directly exposed to the environment.Frequently a user gets the beverage cool, and then places it in thecooler until it is to be consumed. The cooler may also have a coolingcomponent, such as a cold pack, to help maintain the temperature in thecooler. This requires advanced preparation on the part of the user,which is not always a viable option.

Another option is to keep the beverage cooled until the moment it isconsumed. This can be accomplished by the use of a refrigeration system,but refrigeration systems need some form of power to keep operating.This option requires some form of infrastructure to be used.

Related to the use of a refrigeration system is the use of ice toexternally cool a beverage to to be added to the beverage when consumed.Ice cannot be used too far away from an ice source as it will melt.Further, the generation of ice typically involves a use of arefrigeration system that was previously discussed.

These constraints lead to problems. If a person purchases a beverage ata store, it may be too warm if he decides to drink it several hourslater. If it is purchased at a public event, then it may be too farremoved from the refrigeration source for optimal temperature, or thevendor may be limited in the number of beverages he can carry at once.There is a need for a system that allows a beverage to be purchased thatcan be cooled on command without the use of an independent coolingsystem.

SUMMARY

The disclosed device 100 comprises a self-contained beverage thermalsystem. The system may be sold as a complete unit to the consumer. Thethermal system only requires a simple physical action to activate, andwill bring the temperature of the beverage 420 down to a desired level.The system is designed to be an economical alternative to large scalerefrigeration mechanisms. Once the beverage 420 is consumed, the entiresystem may be discarded without toxic concerns due to the use ofmaterials used in the construction of the device 100.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the elements of the exemplary embodiment of the discloseddevice 100 before they are assembled together, including the vessel 200,packet 300, bladder 400, and thermal element 500.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of an exemplary embodiment of the device100 before activation.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of an exemplary embodiment of the device100 as the system is activating.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of an exemplary embodiment of the device100 when it is fully activated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary embodiment of the device 100 uses a thermal element 500 (inthis case the nitrate based chemical Urea) combined with an activationelement 310 (in this case water) to cool the beverage 420 contained in avessel 200, which in this case is a bottle. When the activation element310 mixes with the thermal element 500, the reaction that creates thecombined element 600 that absorbs heat, cooling the beverage 420 in thebladder 400 via an endothermic reaction. While the exemplary embodimentuses a nitrate and water to cause an endothermic reaction, it isunderstood that any combination of non-toxic chemicals may be used tocreate an endothermic or exothermic reaction without departing from thescope and spirit of the disclosed device 100.

Components

The device 100 involves the use of a vessel 200 with a bladder 400holding a beverage 420 that is cooled by a user activated thermal systeminvolving two or more elements that together cause an endothermicreaction. While exemplary embodiments will discuss a standard 16 oz.size plastic bottle as a vessel 200, it is understood that this couldwork on vessels 200 of any size and shape.

FIG. 1 shows the individual components of the exemplary embodiment ofthe device 100, comprising vessel 200 (a disposable bottle) with athermal system (comprised of an activation element 310 held in a packet300 and a separate thermal element 500) and a bladder 400 capable ofholding a beverage 420. The bladder 400 holds the beverage 420 andallows the user to access the beverage 420 while preventing the thermalsystem from escaping from the vessel 200 once the device 100 isassembled.

The vessel 200 should be insulated to keep the cooling effect confinedto the vessel 200 interior. This will concentrate the cooling effectinside the vessel 200 and also make sure the vessel 200 does not becomeso cool as to make grasping the vessel 200 uncomfortable. Additionally,the vessel 200 may be made of transparent, semi-transparent, orpartially transparent materials. This may be useful if the thermalsystem includes a change in color that can indicate the cooling processis occurring, as will be explained below. In the exemplary embodiment,the walls 220 of the vessel 200 may be strong enough to resistlongitudinally deformation, but weak enough to allow some lateraldeformation by squeezing as needed. The walls 220 may also be ofsufficiently elasticity to return to the original shape when thesqueezing stops.

Next is the thermal system. The thermal system in the exemplaryembodiment is a system that does not activate until the activationelements 310 and thermal elements 500 are mixed. While the exemplaryembodiment uses two elements, it is understood that more elements may beused as needed to create different effects or to utilize differentelements. In the exemplary embodiment, the thermal system will contain athermal element 500 that will react when combined with an activationelement 310. In this case, the thermal element 500 is Urea, and theactivation element 310 is water.

While the exemplary embodiment uses water as an activation element 310,it may contain any chemical or mineral that causes the thermal reactionto begin when it comes in contact with the thermal element 500. Thethermal reaction created by the activation element 310 mixing with thethermal element 500 will cause the beverage 420 in the bladder 400 tocool. There may be thermal elements 500 surrounding the bladder 400 onall sides to have as much of the thermal element 500 in contact with thebladder 400 as possible to cool the beverage 420. In the exemplaryembodiment, the thermal elements 500 are in pellet form, but may be inany form without departing form the scope of the disclosure.

Before the thermal system is activated, the thermal element 500 iscontained in the vessel 200 outside of the bladder 400 (which will beexplained below), with the activation element 310 in a packet 300. Thepacket 300 is constructed to allow the activation element 310 to bedistributed through the vessel 200 once the packet 300 is ruptured. Thepacket 300 will be positioned between the bladder 400 and the wall 220.This packet 300 should be of a shape that allows rupturing when thevessel 200 is squeezed, but not when the vessel 200 receives any othertypes of force. For example, the packet 300 should be durable to preventaccidental activation, but susceptible to fracturing upon localizedpressure application. The packet 300 may be in any shape, including, butnot limited to, cylindrical, rectangular prism, or other shapes. Inalternative embodiments, the packet 300 may also be designed to becylindrical and run a majority of the height of the vessel 200, a toroidand encircle the bladder 400, or in any other shape provided there isspace in the vessel 200.

Additional elements may be added to the thermal system as needed.Elements may be added to slow or prolong the endothermic reaction.Elements may also be added to minimize any gaseous buildup caused by thereaction. Elements may also be added to cause the combination ofactivation element 310 and thermal element 500 to form a viscousmaterial to prevent possible leakage. Any additional elements may beadded to the system without deviating from the scope of this device 100.

In an additional exemplary embodiment, there may be multiple chambers ofthermal element 500 and activation element 310. This could allow a muchcooler beverage 420, or allow for the system to be used multiple timesto make the cooling effect last longer.

The next major element is a bladder 400. The bladder 400 will hold thebeverage 420 to be cooled by the thermal system. In the exemplaryembodiment, the bladder 400 will hold less than the full volume of thevessel 200. The amount of space taken up by the bladder 400 will bebased on a function of the volume needed for the thermal system. It isunderstood that the less space taken up by the thermal system allows formore space to be occupied by the bladder 400. In the exemplaryembodiment, the bladder 400 will be surrounded by the thermal system onthe sides and base, with the bladder aperture 410 coupled to the mouth210 of the vessel 200.

In order to make the most use of the thermal system, the bladder 400should allow for heat transfer. This may be accomplished by making thebladder 400 thin and/or out of thermally conductive materials. Thermallyinsulated materials may be used, but they may impede the use of thedevice 100.

Assembly

In an exemplary embodiment, the device 100 is assembled in steps. First,the thermal element 500 and the packet 300 are placed inside the vessel200. The packet 300 is placed in the vessel 200 in such a manner that itmay be ruptured when the vessel 200 is squeezed by the user. The packet300 is secured to the vessel 200 in a manner that will keep itstationary. In an exemplary embodiment, the packet 300 is oriented abovethe thermal element 500 to assist in the mixing of the activationelement 310 and the thermal element 500 when the packet 300 is ruptured.

The bladder 400 is then inserted and coupled to the mouth 210 of thevessel 200 by the bladder aperture 410. This results in the thermalelement 500 and packet 300 being confined to the vessel 200 as long asthe bladder 400 is intact and in place. In the exemplary embodiment, thebladder 400 is suspended in the middle of the vessel 200, with thethermal element 500 and the packet 300 on the sides surrounding thebladder 400. This allows the most thermal element 500 to make contactwith the bladder 400 when the device 100 is activated.

The vessel 200 has a mouth 210 which is the only opening to the interiorof the vessel 200. As a consequence, the only way out of the vessel 200is through the mouth 210 as well. The bladder 400 is coupled to thevessel 200 is such a manner that there is no way to enter the interiorof the vessel 200 outside of the bladder 400, but still allows thebladder 400 to be filled. As a result, the bladder 400 prevents any ofthe other contents of the vessel 200 from leaving via the mouth 210, andany contents entering the vessel 200 must enter the bladder 400. Theresulting bladder 400 is filled with a beverage 420 and ready for use.

Operations

FIG. 3 shows the system as it begins to activate. There are several waysthat the thermal system may be activated. In an exemplary embodiment,the packet 300 may be placed against the wall 220 of the vessel 200. Ifpressure is applied to the wall 220 of the vessel 200, the packet 300will rupture, freeing the activation element 310 to make contact withthe thermal element 500, causing an endothermic reaction generated bythe resulting combined element 600 when the thermal element 500 andactivation element 310 are mixed. The reaction will lower thetemperature of the contents of the bladder 400, thereby cooling thebeverage 320. The final temperature of the beverage 320 and the time ittakes to reach that temperature will depend on the thermal element 500and activation element 310 used. The final state of the device 100 withthe thermal system completely activated is illustrated in FIG. 4.

In an alternate embodiment, the packet 300 may contain an activationelement 310 of a distinct color or an activation agent 310 that causes adistinct color to appear when the combined element 600 is created. Whenthe activation element 310 is released it now flows around the interiorof the vessel 200, causing a color change noticeable if the vessel 200is transparent. This could be allowed by a transparent vessel 200,semi-transparent vessel 200, or an opaque vessel 200 with a transparent“window” to the interior allowing the user to see the color to determineif the device 100 has been activated. This would have the additionaladvantage of allowing a user to know the thermal system has already beenspent. This may also be accomplished by any similar system that couldcause a noticeable color change.

In an alternate embodiment the vessel 200 may also have a thermometerstrip on the outside, indicating the internal temperature of the vessel200. The indicator may be based on a color change or any other form oftemperature activated mechanism. This will allow the user to know whenthe desired temperature is achieved.

The previously disclosed embodiment was activated by squeezing the wall220 of the vessel 200. In an alternative embodiment, the packet 300 maybe placed at the bottom of the vessel 200. With a vessel 200 that alsosome longitudinal deformation, depressing the bottom of the vessel 200may cause the packet 300 to rupture and start the thermal reaction.

In a further embodiment, the packet 300 may be ruptured by used of someform of rupturing mechanism. The vessel 200 may have a rupturingmechanism that is used when a particular spot on the vessel 200 isdepressed. Alternatively, there may be a rupturing mechanism that islinked to the mechanism that covers the mouth 210 of the vessel 200.When the user removes the cover of the mouth 210 of the vessel 200, amotion occurs that causes the rupturing mechanism to pierce the packet300 to break and release the activation element 310 into the vessel 200to react with the thermal element 500.

In a further alternate embodiment, the activation of the thermal systemmay cause the resulting combination element 600 to form a viscoussubstance that does not leak. If the vessel 200 were to be punctured,there would be no leak of the combined element 600.

Disposal

In an exemplary embodiment, the device 100 is made from biodegradablematerials, and the thermal element 500 and activation elements 310 arenon-toxic. As a result, then the entire device 100 can be disposed ofsafely.

Alternatives

While these exemplary embodiments have been used to show how to cool abeverage, this could also be adapted to heat a beverage. For example,coffee beverages may be purchased with thermal system that allows a userto enjoy warm coffee as needed.

In a further exemplary embodiment, this device 100 can be adapted forany bottle, can, or other disposable drink packaging. It can also beused to create other forms of beverage storage, such as containers formultiple drinks (such as boxes for 12 cans of a beverage) or disposablecoffee containers used to transport coffee to be poured at a differentlocation.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered illustrative only of theprinciples of the device 100. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the method to the exact steps and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the method.

1. A container, comprising: a vessel with a mouth, a bladder residingwithin said vessel, a liquid residing in said bladder, and a thermalsystem residing within said vessel capable of changing the temperatureof said liquid within said bladder.
 2. The container of claim 1, whereinsaid bladder is coupled to said vessel at said mouth.
 3. The containerof claim 2, wherein said bladder is coupled to said vessel by coupling abladder aperture around the interior perimeter of said mouth.
 4. Thecontainer of claim 2, wherein said bladder is coupled to said vessel bycoupling a bladder aperture around the exterior perimeter of said mouth.5. The container of claim 1, wherein said thermal system comprises aplurality of elements to cool said liquid in said bladder when saidplurality of elements are combined.
 6. The container of claim 5, whereinat least one of said plurality of elements is contained in a packagingwithin said vessel that separates at least one of said plurality ofelements from the remaining said plurality of elements.
 7. The containerof claim 6, wherein said thermal system activates when said at least oneof said plurality of element is released from said packaging.
 8. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein said container is constructed fromnon-toxic materials.
 9. The container of claim 1, wherein said thermalsystem cools said liquid.
 10. The container of claim 1, wherein saidthermal system heats said liquid.
 11. The container of claim 1, whereinsaid thermal system comprises a plurality of elements, and wherein saidthermal system activates when pressure is applied to said vessel. 12.The container of claim 11, further comprising: a packet containing atleast one of a plurality of elements, wherein said packaging ruptureswhen said pressure is applied to said vessel, allowing said plurality ofelements to combine.
 13. The container of claim 1, wherein said vesselis made of a durable and flexible material.
 14. The container of claim1, wherein said thermal system further comprises a thickening element.15. The container of claim 1, wherein said thermal system comprises: athermal element, an activation element, and a packet containing at leastone of said thermal element and said activation element, separating saidactivation element and said thermal element, wherein said activationelement will remain separated from said thermal element until an outsideforce is exerted on said packet.
 16. The container of claim 15, whereinsaid outside force causes said packet to rupture, causing saidactivation element to mix with said thermal element.
 17. The containerof claim 16, wherein the combination of said activation element and saidthermal element will cause an endothermic reaction.
 18. The container ofclaim 16, wherein the combination of said activation element and saidthermal element will cause an exothermic reaction.
 19. A system forchanging the temperature of a liquid, comprising: a vessel, a bladdercapable of holding said liquid, and a thermal system comprising, athermal element, and an activation element.
 20. A method for changingthe temperature of a liquid, comprising: placing a thermal system in avessel, said thermal system comprising an activation element and athermal element, placing a bladder in said vessel, placing said liquidin said bladder, and mixing said activation element and thermal elementto produce a temperature changing reaction.